Dispensing closure



Patented Nov. 28, 1939 DISPENSING cLosmus Herman H. Martin, Toledo, Oh io, assignor, to H.'.

H. Martin Products Corporation, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 21, 1937, Serial No, 144,023

5 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing closures for liquid. containers and the like, and has for an object the provision of a new and improved closure of this character.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, embodiments which my invention may assume, and in the drawing:

bodiment of the invention, partly in elevation, a portion ofthe liquid container being broken away, Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig- 15 ure. 1,v

Figure 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view, of the closure means proper, Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, disclosing a different embodimentof 20 the invention, and showing the closure means in closed position,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, part sectional, part elevational view, similar to Figurel, showing the closure means in open position, while Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 6-6- of Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1 through 3 of the draw ing, the embodiment of the invention comprises 30 a closure casing Hi, having a preferably cylindrical body section I. l integrallymerging at the bottom with an enlarged section I2, the inner surface of which isthreaded, as at 13, for engagement with a thread on the neck [4- of a liquid 35 container. lhe upper portion of the cylindrical section II is tapered inwardly, as at l5, and

merges with a reduced cylindrical section IS, the inner edge surface of which is beveled to provide a tapered seat I11, while the interior of the cylin- 40 drical section II, adjacent its juncture. with the tapered portion 15, is provided with an annular shoulder I 8, separating a larger interior diameter 19 of the casing from the smaller interior diameter 20.

The entire casing It], as described, is integral throughout, preferablybeing molded from a composition known in the trade as plaskon, or from Bakelite, or from any other material, which Will be impervious to the action of spiritous liq- 50- uors dispensed therethrough, and which will not contaminate the liquor even though the casing is used for a long time.

cooperating with the casing Ill are closure means proper, indicated as an entirety by the 55: reference character 2|, and comprising a closure Figure 1 is a vertical. sectional view of an em-.

member 22, having a beveled surface 23, adapted to fit the ,tapered seat H, the closure member 22 preferably being composed of plaskon, and threaded upon a threaded stud 24-, forming part of a guide member 25. The guidemember 25, including-the stud 24, is of molded material, preferably glass, and comprises radial longitudinally extending ribs 26, slida-bly accommodated in the larger diameter I9 of the casing l9, and, shorter radial ribs 21, slidablyaccommodated within the 10 smaller diameter of the casing l 0, the ribs 26 and 2-! being longitudinally aligned, and separated by shoulders 28, adapted in one position of the parts toabut the annular shoulder 18 of the casing l Ogto limit outward movement of the guide member 25. Theclosure' means: 21- are initiallyassembledbyinserting the guide member 25 into the'casing Ii! through they relatively large open .end of the casing, and the threaded stud 2t pro- 'jected from-the mouth of thecasing, after which:-

- the closure member 2 2v is threaded onto thestud When the liquid container is in an upright po sition, the weight of the guide'member 25. holds the closure. member- 22 inclosed; position; when the liquid container is tilted, the guide member '25- moves outwardlyuntil the shoulders 28 abut .theannular shoulder l8, unseating the closure.

member 22, permitting liquid to pass through the channels defined by the ribs 26- and 2-1, and outwardlypast the closure member 22.

Referring to Figures 4 through 6, another embodiment of the invention" is disclosed, comprising a casing 30, having a preferably cylindrical body portion 3|, integrally merging. at the bottom with an enlarged section 32, the inner surface of which is provided with an undercut. socket"33 for the reception of thetapered end of an adapter 34, preferably of cork, and-insertable into the neck 35 of a liquid container, a tube 36 of plaskonor similar material e'xtending centrally through'the adapter to protect the material ofiwhich the adapter is made from the action of the contents of the liquid container,

and to protect the liquid from contamination;

The upper portion of the. cylindricalsection 3l' is tapered inwardly, as indicated. at 31, and merges with a-reduced section 38, the inner surface of which is beveled to provide a beveled seat 39. I 1

Cooperating with the'casing 30- is a closure disc 4!! preferably of plaskon, having a central bore threaded for the reception of a stem 4|, integrally formedwith a weighted section 42, thestem and weighted section 42 being molded from'suit- 5 able material, preferably glass. Formed integral- 1y with the upper portion of the weighted section i2 are radial extensions 43, preferably four in number, and at their outer ends the extensions 43 have rounded fulcrum means 44. In this embodiment of the invention the stem ll, and weighted section 42, are inserted from the larger open end of the casing 30, after which the closure member ll] is threaded thereon, and the adapter 34 thereafter applied. When the liquid container is in an upright position, the weighted section 42 holds the closure 46 to its seat; when the liquid container is tilted, one or more of the fulcrum points Ml of the extensions 43 will engage one side of the casing 30, adjacent the outlet orifice, and will tilt the closure member position shown in Figure 5, permitting flow of liquid therepast. When the container is restored to an upright position the weighted section 42 returns the closure to its closed position.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I' claim:

1. Closure means for containers, comprising: a hollow body portion having a reduced section terminating in a pouring opening; and closure means for said opening, including an exterior closure, and interior operating means having a section reciprocably fitting said hollow body portion and a connected section reciprocably fitting said reduced section, said operating means being constructed and arranged to shift said closure to open said pouring opening when said container is moved outof predetermined position, and to return said closure means to closing position when said container is returned to predetermined position, and having channel means to allow passage of liquid therepast when in position to open said closure.

2. Closure means for containers, comprising: a hollow body portion having a'reduced section terminating in a pouring opening; and closure means for said opening, including an exterior closure, and elongated interior operating means having a section comprising radially extending spaced ribs reciprocably fitting said hollow body portion and a connected section comprising radially extending ribs longitudinally aligned with the ribs of said first section and reciprocably fitting said reduced section, said operating means being constructed and arranged to shift said closure to opensaid pouring opening when said container is moved out of predetermined position, and to return said closure means to closing position when said container is returned to predetermined position, said ribs defining channel means to allow passage of liquid therepast when in position to open said closure and forming stop means to limit movement of said operating means.

3. A device of the character described, comprising: elongated tubular means having one end adaptedto be connected to a liquid container, and the opposite end provided with a pouring opening; a closure for said pouring opening, posi- 40 to the of said closure means and said weighted means are spaced longitudinally an appreciable distance from each other, said weighted means, said closure means, and said connecting means, being so constructed and arranged whereby movement of said container toward a substantially horizontal position gravity actuates said weighted means to swing laterally, tilt, and maintain tilted, said connecting means and said closure means, in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said container to open said pouring opening; said weighted means having fulcrum means projecting laterally therefrom, and cooperating in the tilting movement of said weighted, closure, and connecting means.

LA device of the character described, comprising: elongated tubular means having one end adapted to be connected to a liquid container, and the opposite end formed with a neck of appreciable length, provided at its outer end with a pouring opening; a closure for said pouring opening, positioned, and operating,'externally of said tubular means; and weighted means within said tubular means of such size as to be freely movable laterally and longitudinally within the interior of said tubular means, and of a size larger than said pouring opening, said closure means and said weighted means having rigid connecting means therebetween, extending loosely through said neck and said pouring opening, said connecting means being of relatively small size as compared to said neck and pouring opening as to permit considerable longitudinal tilting therein, and of such length that all parts of said closure means and said weighted means are spaced longitudinally an appreciable distance from each other, said weighted means, said closure means, and said connecting means, being so constructed and arranged whereby movement of said container toward a substantially horizontal position gravity actuates said weighted means to swing lat erally, tilt, and maintain tilted, said connecting means and said closure means, posite to the direction of movement of said container to open said pouring opening; said weighted means having fulcrum means projecting laterally therefrom, and cooperating in the tilting movement of said weighted, closure, and connecting means.

5. A device of the character described, comprising: elongated tubular means having one end adapted to be connected to a liquid container, and the opposite end provided with a pouring opening; a closure for said pouring opening, positioned, and operating, externally of said tubular means; and weighted means within said tubular means of such size as to be freely movable laterally and longitudinally within the interior of said tubular means, and of a size larger than said pouring opening, said closure means and said weighted means having rigid connecting means therebetween, extending loosely through :said pouring opening,

in a direction opsaid connecting means being of relatively small size as compared to said pouring opening as to permit considerable longitudinal tilting therein, and of such length that all parts of said closure means and said Weighted means are spaced longitudinally an appreciable distance from each other, said weighted means, said 010- sure means, and said connecting means, being so constructed and arranged whereby movement of said container toward a substantially horizontal 1U position gravity actuates said weighted means to swing laterally, tilt, and maintain tilted, said conheating means and said closure means; in a, direction opposite to the direction of movement of said container to open said pouring opening; and fulcrum means interposed between said weighted means and said closure means, and carried by and movable with said weighted means, closure 1 means, and connecting means.

HERMAN H. MARTIN. 

